A couple of tabloids feel that the smooth-faced pop icon, 51, could be a lot more benevolent toward squeeze Jesus Luz, 22, who has been a no-show on her Malawi mission.

"She doesn't treat him with respect," a "pal" of the Brazilian model kvetches to In Touch. "She talks to him like an errand boy, like he's stupid and has nothing to say. Madonna makes it clear that he's nothing but a pretty face. She treats him like a sex object."

(We'll pause for a second to give you a chance to clutch your pearls. All right, moving on ...)

But the megastar, who broke ground earlier this week on her $15 million Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, had to cede the spotlight to the bubbly personality of David, whom she adopted from the country in 2006 (she brought Mercy home in June).

The rambunctious tyke stuck his tongue out for the cameras and showed his talent for accessorizing by sporting his mom's designer sunglasses and a locally made woven bag (be sure to click through the photos at left to check out David's antics and accoutrements).